Piano-action



PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904.

S. PAULSON.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

@MQZ A PATENTED FEB. 23, 1904. S. PAULSON.

PIANO ACTION.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 1, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2:

H0 MODEL.

- l I Van/0 UNITED STATES Patented February 23, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 753,100, dated February 23, 1904.

Application filed May 1, 1903. Serial No. 155,108. (No model.)

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, SWAN PAULSON, a citizen of the United States,.residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, h ave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Piano-Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in an upright-piano action and support therefor; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an action which Will respond readily to the touch and combines reliability and ease of movement with facility and repetition and which shall be so made as to greatly simplify and lessen the cost of manufacture by employing a fewer number of pieces or elements than are ordinarily used.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled-in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a piano-action embodying my invention, showing the parts in their normal positions. Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of like parts, but showing by dotted lines the position the parts may be caused to assume and illustrating by continuous lines the hammer as having struck the wire or string and rebounded therefrom. Fig. 3 is a rear view in elevation of the action and support therefor, showing the keyboard and cushioned rest for the inner ends of the keys shortened for the convenience of illustration. a detached perspective view of a portion of the adjustable damper-rail. Fig. 5 is a similar View of one of the check-blocks used on said rail. Fig. 6 is a perspective view, partly Fig. 7 is a perspec- Fig. A is.

tive View of the lower portion of one of the pilots. Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a modified form in the construction of the d amper and its supportinga'od, and Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view of one of the supporting-brackets and a portion of the bars used for operating the damper-rods.

Like numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

The support for the actions comprises a number of brackets or uprights, usually four, which are counterparts of one another and are connected together by horizontal bars, and inasmuch as the brackets or uprights are alike I have shown one of them only, except in Fig. 3 of the drawings, in which two are shown. These brackets are disposed in the piano-casing so that one of them will be located near each end thereof and the others at suitable distances apart between the end brackets. Secured to the upper surface of the key-bottom 10 are a number of blocks 11, which are preferably A-shaped in form and have secured to their upper portions a piece of felt 12, on which the lower ends of the brackets 13 rest.

As is clearly shown in the different views of the drawings, the lower end of each of the brackets forming the support for the action is formed with an upwardly-extending angular recess to receive the angular upper portions of the blocks 11, and said brackets are united at their lower portions by means of a crossbar 14, on the front surface of which is secured a piece of felt 15 to form a cushion against which the pilots may strike, which are loosely connected to the keys and have considerable play. Secured to the rear surface of each of the brackets 13 and near their middle portions is the main horizontal bar 16 of the action, and located at a suitable distance above said bar on the rear surface of the brackets is another horizontal bar 17, on which the hammer-butts are supported.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the front portion of each of the supporting-brackets is provided with a forward lyextending portion 18, on the upper surface of which the hammer-rest rail 19 will normally rest. -Located on the upper surface of the key-bottom 10, between the blocks 11, are rails 20, which have on their upper surfaces eushions 21 for the inner ends of the keys 22, which are pivotally secured on the key-bottom in any suitable manner. Vertically secured on each of the keys near its inner end is a screw-threaded rod 23, on which is adjustably secured a button 24, which has on its upper surface a piece of felt 25, on which the lower end of the pilot 26 rests, which lower end is formed with a felt-lined recess 27 to receive the upper portion of the rod or pin 23 to prevent the same rattling. On the upper end of the pilot 26 is pivotally secured the jack-lever 28, which is fulcrumed to a bracket 29 on the main bar 16 and has at its rear end an upwardly-extending arm 30, on which is pivotally secured a flange 31 on the lower end of the damper-wire 32, on the upper end of which is secured a damper 33, which may be of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings and mounted on the rearwardlyturned part of the wire 32 or may be of the construction shown, as at 34 in Fig. 8, in which it is secured on the upright portion of the wire 32 by means of a set-screw 35 or otherwise.

As shown in Fig. 6, the jack-lever 28 is formed with a mortise or recess 36, in which is pivotally secured at its lower end the jack 37, which is actuated by a spring 38, located in the mortise 36, and which may be secured on pins 39 and 40, or the latter pin may be omitted. The free end of the spring 38 rests under the forward extension 41 on the lower.

end of the jack, which extension is provided on its upper surface with a cushion 42 to contact with the head of an adjustable screw 43, secured in a horizontal shaft 44, which is journaled in the lower portion of the extension 18 of the brackets and is protected at its bearings by means of felt 45 or other suitable material. That portion of the extension 18 of each of the brackets in which the shaft 44 is journaled has a vertical slot 46 to allow of the passage of the screws 43 when it is desired to remove said shaft, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which View the said shaft is shown as being turned so that the screws will register with the slots 46, so that the shaft may be removed longitudinally, the screws in said figure being shown in dotted lines. Vertically secured to the front portion of the jack-lever 28, and usually in a mortise therein, is the hammer-check 47, the upper portion of which is provided with a rearwardly-extending arm 48, to limit the stroke of the forwardlyextending arm 49 on the hammer-butt 50, the free end of which arm is covered with buckskin 51 to impinge a cushion 52 on the rear surface of the hammer-check 47 below the arm 48 thereon. The hammer-butt 50 is fulcrumed to a bracket 53, secured to the front surface of the rail 17, and carries an upright stem 54, on the upper end of which is secured a hammer 55, used to strike the wire 56, which is supported in the ordinary manner.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the shaft 44 is provided with an arm 57, used to turn the same, so that the screws 43 may be suitably adjusted.

Extending from the rear lower portion of the hammer-rest rail 19 is an arm 58, which has its bearing in the bracket, and as one of these arms is employed for each of the brackets it is apparent that said rail will be pivotally supported, so that it can be raised by means of a rod 59, which is connected at its lower end to one of the pedals and fits at its upper end in a recess of the rail. To prevent the rail 19 being raised too far, it is provided on its rear surface with one or more arms 61, which have cushions 62 on their free ends to contact with the front surface of the supporting-blackets. The rear surface of the rail 19 is provided with a cushion 63, on which the hammer-stems 54 will rest. Located on an arm 64, projecting from the rear middle portion of each of the brackets, is a screwthreaded rod 65, which extends upwardly and adjustably supports the damper-rail 66, which has at one of its ends a rearwardly-projecting portion 67, against which the upper end of a rod 68 impinges, the lower end of which rod is connected to one of the pedals (not shown) and is used to tilt the rail 66, so as to remove the dampers from the wires 56, as is shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The rear surface of the rail 66 is formed with a longitudinal slot 69, in which is located a piece of wood 70, to which is secured on its outer surface a strip of felt 71, interposed between the damper-wires 32 and said rail. Located on the upper surface of the rail 66 at the rear of each of the brackets 13 is a check-block 7 2, which has a rearwardly-projecting portion 73 and a downward extension 74 to lit between the rail 66 and a bar 75, which bar is secured to the portion 73 of the block and has on its inner surface a cushion 76 to press against the damper-wires. Passing transversely through the rail 66 and bar is a screw 77, which sccures the said rail and bar together. The rear and front portions of the block 72 are provided with cushions 78, against the former of which will rest the lower end of a spring 79, the other end of which is secured to the rear portion of the bracket 13 above said block. Secured in the bracket 13 slightly above the block 72 is a check-wire 80, which has its rear end downturned to contact with the cushion on the rear surface of the block. It will therefore be unthe rail.

73 of the blocks 72, and the screw 77 passes transversely through the rail 66 and bar 7 5, so as to draw them together and cause them to clamp the damper-wires 32, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings. The hamm er-butt 50 carries on its rear surface a piece of felt 81, against which the free end of a spring 82 will rest, the other end of which spring is secured on a bar 83, extending from one bracket to the other. Above the bar 83 is located a rail 84, which has on its outer surface felt 85, against which the damper-wires may strike, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings it will be seen and readily understood that by striking the outer end of the key the inner portion thereof will be raised, thus causing the pilot 26 to be correspondingly raised, in which operation the hammer 55 will be caused to strike the string or wire 56 and rebound therefrom and when the pressure is removed from the key to assume its normal position on the hammer-rest rail; but as long as the pressure is maintained on the outer end of the key the hammer will be retained at a distance from the wire 56 by the reason of the action of the spring 82 against the hammerbutt, the front lower portion of which is provided with felt 86, against which the upper end of the jack 37 will rest. At the same time the hammer strikes the wire 56 it is apparent that the damper 33, through its connection with the jack-lev er 28, will be removed therefrom. If it is desired to remove all of the dampers from the wires 56 at the same time, the pedal to which the rod 68 is connected may be pressed upon, which operation will raise the rail 66 to the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the dampers from the wires 56 or strings. The blocks 72 being located on the rail 66 at the rear of each of the brackets 13, it is apparent that the check-wires will contact with the rear surface of said blocks and check the rearward movements of the damper-wires. The damper-rest rail 19 may be raised by pressing on the pedal to which the rod 59 is connected, as is apparent.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. 'In a piano-action, the combination with a pivoted key, of a hammer-butt having a forwardly-extending arm, a hammer connected to said butt, a jack-lever suitably fulcrumed below the hammer-butt, a spring-pressed jack fulcrumed on the jack-lever and provided with a forward extension at its lower end and adapted to impinge the butt with its upper end, a hammer-check vertically secured on the front portion of the jack-lever and having at its upper end an arm projecting rearwardly and above the arm on the butt, a longitudinally removable and rotatable shaft horizontally journaled near the jack, a screw adjustably secured in said shaft to impinge the extension on the jack, and a connection uniting the inner portion of the key and the jack-lever, substantially as described.

2. In a piano-action, the combination with a pivoted key, of a hammer-butt having a forwardly-extending arm, ahammer connected to said butt. ajack-lever fulcrumed below the butt and provided at its rear portion with an upwardly-extending arm, a spring-pressed jack fulcrumed on the jack-lever and provided with a forward extension at its lower end and adapted to impinge the butt with its upper end, a hammer-check vertically secured on the front portion of the j ack-lever and having at its upper end an arm projecting rearwardly and above the arm on the butt, a shaft horizontally journaled near the jack and carrying a screw to impinge the extension thereof, a connection uniting the inner portion of the key and the jack-lever, a damper-wire having at its upper end a damper and its lower end pivotally secured to the arm of the jack-lever, a rail pivotally secured to the supporting-brackets and having means to engage said wire above its pivot, and means to tilt said rail, substantially as described.

3. In a piano-action, the combination with a support comprising a number of upright brackets located in alinement and parallel with one another in the piano-casing, of horizontal rails secured on the rear portion of the brackets, a pivoted key, a jack-lever fulcrumed on one of the rails of the support, a pilot pivotally secured at its upper end to the jack-lever and in engagement with the key at its lower end, a jack fulcrumed on the jack-lever and adapted to impinge the hammer-butt at its upper end, and provided with a forward extension on its lower portion, a spring on the jack-lever to actuate the jack, a shaft horizontally journaled on the support above said extension, an adjustable screw in said shaft to impinge said extension, a hammer-check vertically secured on the front portion of the jacklever and having at its upper portion a rearwardly-extending arm, a spring-pressed hammer-butt having an arm projecting forwardly and below the arm on the said check-lever, and a hammer connected to said butt, substantially as described.

4. In a piano-action, the combination with a pivoted key, of a hammer-butt having a forwardly-extending arm, a hammer connected to said. butt, a j ack-lever fulcrumed below the butt and provided at its rear portion with an upwardly-extending arm, a spring-pressed jack fulcrumed on the jack-lever and provided with a forward extension at its lower end and adapted to impinge the butt with its upper end, a hammer-check vertically secured on the front portion of the jack-lever and having at its upper end an arm projecting rearwardly and ets andhavingmeansto engage saidwireabove 1 above the arm on the butt, a shaft horizonits pivot, means to tilt said rail, the hammertally journaled near the jack and carrying a rest rail pivotally secured and having means screw to impinge the extension thereof, a conto check its movements, and means to raise 5 nection uniting the inner portion of the key said rail, substantially as described.

and the jack-lever, a damper-Wire having at SWAN PAULSON. its upper end a damper and its lower end piv- Witnesses: otally secured to the arm of the jack-lever, a CHAS. C. TILLMAN,

rail pivotally secured to the supporting-braek- A. Gus'rAFsoN. 

